Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm — the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen and plays an important role in breathing. Each contraction is followed by a sudden closure of your vocal cords, which produces the characteristic "hic" sound.

Hiccups may result from a large meal, alcoholic beverages or sudden excitement. In some cases, hiccups may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. For most people, a bout of hiccups usually lasts only a few minutes. Rarely, hiccups may persist for months. This can result in malnutrition and exhaustion.

The characteristic sound of a hiccup is the only sign. Sometimes the only symptom is a slight tightening sensation in your chest, abdomen or throat that precedes the sound.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment to see your doctor if your hiccups last more than 48 hours or if they are so severe that they cause problems with eating, sleeping or breathing.

The most common triggers for hiccups that last less than 48 hours include:

Drinking carbonated beverages

Drinking too much alcohol

Eating too much

Excitement or emotional stress

Sudden temperature changes

Swallowing air with chewing gum or sucking on candy

Hiccups that last more than 48 hours may be caused by a variety of factors, which are generally grouped into the following categories.

Nerve damage or irritation

The most common cause of long-term hiccups is damage to or irritation of the vagus nerves or phrenic nerves, which serve the diaphragm muscle.Factors that may cause damage or irritation to these nerves include:

A hair or something else in your ear touching your eardrum

A tumor, cyst or goiter in your neck

Gastroesophageal reflux

Sore throat or laryngitis

Central nervous system disorders

A tumor or infection in your central nervous system or damage to your central nervous system as a result of trauma can disrupt your body's normal control of the hiccup reflex. Examples include:

Encephalitis

Meningitis

Multiple sclerosis

Stroke

Traumatic brain injury

Tumors

Metabolic disorders and drugs

Long-term hiccups can be triggered by:

Alcoholism

Anesthesia

Barbiturates

Diabetes

Electrolyte imbalance

Kidney failure

Steroids

Tranquilizers

Men are much more likely to develop long-term hiccups than are women. Other factors that may increase your risk of hiccups include:

Mental or emotional issues. Anxiety, stress and excitement have been associated with some cases of short-term and long-term hiccups.

Surgery. Some people develop hiccups after undergoing general anesthesia or after procedures that involve abdominal organs.

Prolonged hiccups may interfere with:

Eating

Sleeping

Speech

Wound healing after surgery

While you may initially consult your family doctor about your persistent hiccups, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in neurological or gastrointestinal disorders.

What you can do

You may want to write a list that includes:

Detailed descriptions of your symptoms

Information about medical problems you've had

Information about the medical problems of your parents or siblings

All the medications and dietary supplements you take

Questions you want to ask the doctor

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask:

When did your hiccups start?

How often do they occur?

Is there anything that worsens or alleviates them?

What medications are you taking?

Have you had a sore throat or earache?

Do you have indigestion symptoms or bloating?

Have you had a sore throat or changes in your voice?

Have you had chest pain, cough or difficulty breathing?

During the physical exam, your doctor may perform a neurological exam to check your:

Balance and coordination

Muscle strength and tone

Reflexes

Sight and sense of touch

If your doctor suspects an underlying medical condition may be causing your hiccups, he or she may recommend one or more of the following tests.

Laboratory tests

Samples of your blood may be checked for signs of:

Infection

Diabetes

Kidney disease

Imaging tests

These types of tests may be able to detect anatomical abnormalities that may be affecting the vagus nerve, phrenic nerve or diaphragm. Imaging tests may include:

Chest X-ray

Computerized tomography (CT)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Endoscopic tests

These procedures utilize a thin, flexible tube containing a tiny camera, which is passed down your throat to check for problems in your esophagus or windpipe.

Most cases of hiccups go away on their own without medical treatment. If an underlying medical condition is causing your hiccups, treatment of that illness may eliminate the hiccups. The following treatments may be considered for hiccups that have lasted longer than two days.

Medications

Drugs commonly used to treat long-term hiccups include:

Chlorpromazine

Metoclopramide

Baclofen

Surgical and other procedures

If less invasive treatments aren't effective, your doctor may recommend an injection of an anesthetic to block your phrenic nerve to stop hiccups.

Another option is to surgically implant a battery-operated device to deliver mild electrical stimulation to your vagus nerve. This procedure is most commonly used to treat epilepsy, but it has also helped control persistent hiccups.

Although there's no certain way to stop hiccups, if you have a bout of hiccups that lasts longer than a few minutes, the following home remedies may provide relief, although they are unproven:

Breathe into a paper bag

Gargle with ice water

Hold your breath

Sip cold water

When long-term hiccups don't respond to other remedies, alternative treatments, such as hypnosis and acupuncture, may be helpful.

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